Indiana Pork Supports Growth

Indiana Pork, the strategic alliance between the Indiana Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Indiana Pork Advocacy Coalition (INPAC), boards of directors voted unanimously to endorse the efforts of Gov. Mitch Daniels to expand pork production as part of the governor’s livestock initiative in the state.

Daniels has called for pork production to double in Indiana by 2025. The goal is to make Indiana a national leader in integrating livestock into local economic development using sound environmental practices, public understanding of modern livestock agriculture and land-use planning.

“Our organization sees the governor’s initiative as a critical move to revitalizing the rural economy in our state,” says Monty Moss, DVM, IPPA president. “Increasing pork production not only benefits pork producers, it benefits grain farmers and all the other vendors who provide goods and services needed in pork production.”

Estimates are that pork producers often buy goods and services from more than 50 vendors including feed suppliers, veterinarians, construction firms, plumbers, transportation firms, waste handlers and more. In doing so, those purchases support rural economies and provide a downstream benefit for tax-supported institutions, including schools.

Gov. Daniels, Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture have demonstrated extraordinary leadership to promote Indiana livestock, especially pork production,” adds INPAC President David Hardin. “In addition to calling for increased pork production, they have taken aggressive steps to establish new markets as our industry expands.”

Gov. Daniels and state agriculture department Director Andy Miller recently completed a trade mission to Japan and South Korea where they, along with IPPA representatives, met with Asian customers to promote Indiana pork.

“This type of bold leadership puts Indiana out in front of other states in their efforts to support a stronger rural economy,” says Moss. “With this vote, we hope to show the non-agricultural community that support for agriculture has a positive impact on the entire state.”